Floorshime Zipper Boots Top 20 Artists/Bands of 2011: #10 - #1

As promised, here are #10 - #1 on the FZB Top 20 Artists/Bands of 2011. These were both my favorite and your favorite artists to appear in the blog this year. These terrific artists make me look forward to 2012 and all the great new music that will be coming. The top 10 are:

#10 - Teens

#9 - Oh No It's POk


#8 - I Am Genko


#7- Erica Buettner


#6 - Cosmonauts


#5 - Through A Glass, Darkly


#4 - Cassie


#3 - Arrange


#2 - Dress Rehearsal


#1 - Can Can

Floorshime Zipper Boots Top 20 Artists/Bands of 2011: #20 - #11

So here it is, the FZB top 20 bands/artists of 2011. The last year has seen many terrific artists featured on this blog. All of them deserve attention, but alas, we live in a land of year end lists, so here are the top 20 arrived at through a combination of my choice, your email suggestions and page view numbers. Today we countdown #20 - #11 and tomorrow we will feature the #10 - #1 artists/bands for 2011:

#20 - Francisco The Man

#19 - Burning Buildings


#18 - Stone Darling


#17 - Beat Culture


#16 - Esque


#15 - Bad Lamps


#14 - Sun Glitters


#13 - Creepoid


#12 - Little Scout


#11 - Crystal Shipsss

Winter Severity Index: Winter Severity Index

Winter Severity Index is the self-titled debut EP from the Italian post-punk band. This female quartet delivers four tracks of deep atmospheric rock with strong vocals and musicianship. The tracks are crisp; clean and catchy. This is a debut full of promise and wets the appetite for more. Stream and buy Winter Severity Index at the link below.

Zombie Girlfriend: Music For Porn



Music For Porn is the latest release from Hungarian garage band Zombie Girlfriend. Fast, heavy, in your face rock is what Music For Porn delivers. The ten tracks are lo-fi, noise laden affairs with an interesting muffled quality. It's hard to find a niche of originality in garage music, but Zombie Girlfriend offer their own unique take on the genre and are not overtly derivative. The album is a fine example of the great music that can be found off the beaten path. Stream and download Music For Porn for free at the link below.

Vortex Rikers: Oceanic EP

German electronic group Vortex Rikers have released their latest work the Oceanic EP. The seven instrumental tracks weave dark ambient, down tempo themes with minimalist beats to make a sensory experience that is rich in imagery. Melodic, with repetitious passages, Oceanic EP would make a beautiful compliment to a grey winter's day or  the dark twilight beofre nightfall. This EP is intimate yet open, inviting the listener to be an active participant. Stream and download the Oceanic EP at the link below.

Blonds: Dark Roots EP

The Dark Roots EP is the debut from Miami duo Blonds. Featuring lead vocals from Cari Rae and music from Jordy Asher, Blonds make distinctive dream pop that possesses the ground between the milkyness of Tennis and Cults, and the hardcore of Sleigh Bells. The Dark Roots EP is five tracks of edgy, melodic and all together terrific indie pop. Blonds have delivered a debut that's about as strong as they come. Stream and download the Dark Roots EP for free at the link below.

Fiveng: Solstice

San Francisco electronic artist Fiveng, aka Nicholas Ng, is back with a new single in time for the holidays, Solstice b/w Savior. The two tracks showcase minimalist beats, nice synth work and up tempo holiday influenced treaments. The songs are hooky synthpop, with the very dreamy Aurora shot above as the cover art. Stream and download Solstice at the link below.

Floorshime Zipper Boots Top 20 Artists/Bands of 2011 - Submit Your Picks Now!

The FZB Top 20 Artists/Bands of 2011 is coming next week. We count down #20 - #11 on Thursday December 29 and then #10 - #1 on Friday December 30. Check in to see who were the most impressive artists to appear on the blog for 2011. Let me have your opinion. Send me your favorites and help pick the top 20. Your choices need to have been reviewed on this blog to be eligible. Send your picks to prevratmusic (at) gmail (dot) com.

Triobelisk: Path Of The Setting Suns

Swedish artist Triobelisk has released his latest album Path Of The Setting Suns. This instrumental electronic album ranges from darkish looming soundscapes to video game inspired themes. The ten tracks are trippy and expertly produced. Prominent beats and layers of innovative sounds abound. The album features a futuristic theme to the music bordering on a fusion of electronica and techno. Stream and download Path Of The Setting Suns at the link below.

Daniel Waples/Hang In Balance: MMXI

MMXI is the latest work from Daniel Waples, otherwise known as Hang in Balance. Waples work is truly original, taking downtempo and blending it with tribal elements and roots/jazz fusions. MMXI takes the listener on a journey that brings peace to the soul and opens the sonic landscape to visions of worlds yet experienced. Stream and buy MMXI at the link below.

Video: Nanosaur Live

Here's some nicely done video of Nanosaur performing live.

Video: I Am Genko - Bikini

Here's a nice video of FZB favorite I Am Genko performing his track Bikini. Goes to the old addage that the hand is quicker than the eye.

Video: Through a Glass, Darkly - Be My Guest

Recently reviewed Australian band Through a Glass, Darkly have just released a video for their kickass track Be My Guest. Watch it below.

Floorshime Zipper Boots Top 20 Artists/Bands of 2011 - Submit Your Picks Now!



The FZB Top 20 Artists/Bands of 2011 is coming next week. We count down #20 - #11 on Thursday December 29 and then #10 - #1 on Friday December 30. Check in to see who were the most impressive artists to appear on the blog for 2011. Let me have your opinion. Send me your favorites and help pick the top 20. Your choices need to have been reviewed on this blog to be eligible. Send your picks to prevratmusic (at) gmail (dot) com.

Chocolate Robots: Pizza Face

Chocolate Robots are three brothers from Sarnia, Ontario that work in their parent's pizza shop. When not tossing crust, they play enjoyable post-punk music. Their debut album Pizza Face, is ten slices of power pop with three classic ingredients, guitar, bass and drums. Slightly lo-fi and hooky, with an overall fun bent to the tracks, Pizza Face makes for light hearted listening. Get a pizza and give Pizza Face a listen. Stream and buy Pizza Face at the link below.

Similar Objects: Finding Astral Lovers

Similar Objects, aka Manila artist/producer Jorge Juan Wieneke V, has released his new album Finding Astral Lovers. Like its FZB reviewed predecessor, The Limits of Thought, Finding Astral Lovers sees Wieneke blending elements of house, IDM, electronica and dubstep into a lush set electronic tonal poems. The album features eleven tracks of beat heavy astral landscapes and airy synth pads. Stream and download Finding Astral Lovers for free at the link below.

Smoke Room: Vol. 2

Minneapolis artist Smoke Room has released his second album aptly titled Vol. 2. Incorporating elements of house and dubstep, the nine tracks take an upbeat approach to Chillwave. Effect laden synths, prominant beats and muffled vocals, give Vol. 2 a unique quality were darkish vocals are offset by the light hearted electronic sounds and uptempo beats. Smoke Room has an enjoyable take on the genre. Stream and download Vol. 2 at the link below.

Sean Nicholas Savage: Flamingo

Flamingo is the latest album from Montreal singer/songwriter Sean Nicholas Savage. The album features 13 tracks of poppy freak folk. Melodic vocals, light synths, clean guitars and crisp production mark this release. Savage's music is fun in spirit and serious in delivery. He is a master troubador and uses his own unique style to advance the genre. Stream and download Flamingo at the link below.

Motel Beds: Tango Boys

Tango Boys is the new album from Ohio indie rockers Motel Beds. Tango Boys is their followup to the FZB reviewed Sunfried Dreams album and continues Motel Beds brand of diverse indie music. Ranging from twangy retro, to lo-fi bangers, Motel Beds invoke a 60's vibe to propel the listener through their musical tapestry. Tango Boys is twelve tracks of solid indie rock that is guaranteed to please. Stream and buy Tango Boys at the link below.

Arrange: Sun Showers

Sun Showers is the first new track from FZB #1 artist in our midyear picks Arrange since his Plantation album. The track will appear on his next album Five Years With The Sun, to be released on January 24th. Arrange's highly successful Plantation, has left much anticipation for new material. Sun Showers does not disappoint. Continuing with Arrange's dark, downtempo, chillwave style, Sun Showers is melodic, airy and spacious. Minimal beats, soulful guitars and lush synths wrap Arrange's vocals to simple perfection. Sun Showers is the perfect advance view into his new album. Stream and download Sun Showers for free at the link below.

Lovesliescrushing: Ghost Colored Halo EP

Ghost Colored Halo EP is the work of Chicago shoegaze duo Lovesliescrushing. The five track EP starts with an epic sounding long ambient drone piece and then transforms into lush orchestral textures that challenge one's perception of what can be done by a duo with elements of guitar, noise and vocals. The tracks seem to tower far above the realm of the listener and become almost transcendental in their listening experience. This is a great EP. Stream and buy the Ghost Colored Halo EP at the link below.

Royal Downfall: These Means Have No End

These Means Have No End is the sophomore album from Swedish post-punk band Royal Downfall. The album delivers ten tracks of driving, in your face music that, at times, borders more on hardcore. This album is a bit of a lost and found work. Released in December of 2007, the band has not released any followup although they appear to still be together. This album is also currently the most popular album in the post-punk category on Bandcamp, which makes it worth hearing on its own. The powerful tracks that take your ears on directly is also a good reason to give this a listen. Stream and download These Means Have No End at the link below.

Pet Milk: Philadelphia Punklife

Pet Milk is a power pop band from Philadelphia. We reviewed their Demos release back in April and now we have a proper EP from the band, Philadelphia Punklife. The EP showcases the band's develoment and maturity since Demos, with four tracks of solid and well produced post punk goodness. The bad presents the songs with confidence, balance and the whole of Philadelphia Punklife is an enjoyable debut from a band that has something to say. Pet Milk delivers and Philadelphia Punklife should be on everyone's iPod. Stream and buy Philadelphia Punklife at the link below.

Peter Kernel Video: Panico! This is Love

Cool video for the Peter Kernel track Panico! This is Love featuring a stylized strip tease. Watch it below.

Jacob Faurholt: Hurrah Hurrah

Jacob Faurholt is a favorite at FZB for both the music he makes under his own name and for his Crystal Shipsss side project. For the month of December Faurholt invites us to take a trip back to his second album Hurrah Hurrah, from late 2007, and download it for free. Featuring ten tracks of freak folk, Hurrah Hurrah is packed with great songs, lush vocals and instrumental surprises. This album is an intimate look into the development of this talented singer songwriter. Stream and download Hurrah Hurrah for free at the link below.

Stalagmites: Rainbow Reptile/Howling At The Moon

A single, a mere two tracks, can't say much about a band. However, in the case of Stalagmites a single speaks volumes. Rarely does a band come around that can just blow one away with two tracks. This is what the debut single from Stalagmites did on my first listen. Instantly these UK shoegazers grabbed me with powerful indie rock. The two songs are excellent, the vocals suberb and the instrumentation is what garage music should be. This is a band that has all the ingrediants for mass appeal. Get in on the ground floor and say you knoew them when. Stream and download the Stalagmites single for free at the link below.

Fotoshop: Lifeforms

Lifeforms is the latest album from Helsinki shoegazer Fotoshop, otherwise known as artist/producer Jarno-Erik Faarinen. Lifeform's ten tracks offer a dense amalgem of synths, beats and vocals wrapped in a mildly noise, lo-fi aesthetic. One can find influences as diverse as trip hop, alt rock and straight up indie in Fotoshop's music. What comes of this on Lifeforms is beautiful atmospheric tracks that make for compelling listening. Stream and buy lifeforms at the link below.

The Never Years: Life of Dreams



Life of Dreams is the latest release from Houston artist/producer The Never Years, aka Jamie Long. Life of Dreams pleases with 11 tracks of house influenced synthpop. The album is lush in it's layering of synths over minimal beats and guitars. The vocals are dark and haunting, giving the sense of floating in space apart from the music. All this is tied together with lighty lo-fi production quality giving an edgy gloss to the package. Life of Dreams is an album that should be heard and appreciated. Stream and download Life of Dreams at the link below.